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Sunday, October 28, 2012

I'm excited to be a part of the CUPCAKE AND CRUSHES blog tour, spreading the word about the second installment of the delightfully delicious CUPCAKE CLUB series. You can read my review here, but today I'm happy to share with you a great
guest-post from Carrie and her mom: A recipe for spaghetti cupcakes!

Learn
how to make this incredible cupcake. It may sound a little
unconventional, but put it together just right and you have a
delicious—and clever—lunch!
Jeremy’s Pastalicious
Cupcakes

3.Pour the cooked spaghetti into the bowl with the
tomato sauce cheese mixture. Toss the spaghetti in the mixture, making sure to
coat all of the noodles.

4.Add spoonfuls of the mixture into greased muffin
tins. It can come up to just below the top of each opening. Press down so the
noodles are packed into muffin tin—they will apart if not packed enough.

5.Dip the turkey meatballs in tomato sauce and the
top of cupcakes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

6.Bake for eighteen to twenty-two minutes.

7.Let cool for a few minutes. Run a butter knife around
each one to loosen.

Friday, October 26, 2012

I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the BEDTIME PAJAMA PARTY BLOG TOUR promoting Jeanne C. Blackmore’s new children’s book HOW DOES SLEEP COME? Elizabeth Sayles’ illustrations paint the coziest, most relaxing pictures that will have the little ones yawning in no time.

Before
bed, Jacob asks his Mom, “How does sleep come?” His mom answers with
soothing images that leave Jacob’s eyes drooping as he lifts off to
dreamland. Sourcebooks
Jabberwocky has been kind enough to provide a Pajama Party Kit that
will keep the party interested and provide the children the ability to
become a part of Jacob’s bedtime adventure.

oUse
construction paper to cut out little pajama bottoms and write the
desired information on the legs. Use colored ribbon to make a cute bow
on the top to look like pajama draw strings. Put in an envelope and
send.

·Make sure you have all your food and materials ready and set up for the guests. (I always have extra so that everyone smiles.)

oFood Ideas:

§Milk and Cookies:

--Cookies made in moon, star, and teddy bear shapes

§Cupcakes with moons and stars as decoration toppings

§Sliced Apples with Peanut Butter (but check for allergies first!)

·Decorations
are easy for a Pajama theme! Push living room furniture out of the way
first. Throw pillows around the living room and place plenty of
blankets around for a cozy atmosphere. To add affect, create a starry
sky by hanging white twinkly lights around the party area.

DURING the party:

ICEBREAKER GAMES

·Use
the creative writing stars found in the Sourcebooks Pajama Party Kit as an icebreaker. You can ask questions such as, “What is
the best bedtime snack?” or “What stuffed animal do you cuddle with at
nighttime?”

·Easy obstacle course to get energy out before reading the book:

oPretend
they’re Jacob sprinting to his bed before lights out: jump the pillow,
crawl under the chair, go around the footstool and end up in the living
room (or party area) for the reading. Have crepe paper “finish” and
“start” lines taped to the floor.

READING

·As you read HOW DOES SLEEP COME have the kids count sailboats and guess what animal will appear next. Then, ask them how they think sleep comes.

SLEEPY TIME FOOD

This would be the perfect time to bring out snacks! (see above)

GAMES

·Like the rabbit in HOW DOES SLEEP COME, race and hop around. To add effect: make a blanket out of cotton balls on the floor, so that it feels like clouds and snow.

·Pajama
Contest with winners and prizes for most comfy, most sleepy time props,
brightest PJs, and more. Prizes could be a small plush toy or candy.

oYou can also use the pillow case as a cape to look like Jacob on the cover.

Use the downloadable Sourcebooks Pajama Party Kit for activities that will allow the kids to interact with Jacob’s bedtime in How DOES SLEEP COME?

PARTING GIFTS:

·Slip
one of the cookies they might have enjoyed during the party into a
cellophane CD envelope, tie with colored yarn, and add a nice Thank You
note or tag. On the less expensive side, simply use sandwich baggies or
saran wrap!

oThe Thank You note can be made with colored construction paper cut out in moons or stars, punch a whole, and attach to yarn!

·Packets of hot cocoa mix, so when they go home and get ready for bed, they can feel all snuggly and warm.

oTo jazz up the packets, add a Thank You note using the ideas listed above.

·Make your own bookmarks with dreamlike pictures like the ones you find in the book·Purchase
glow-in-the-dark stars and put a few in 5.5 " L x 1.5 " W envelopes.
You can write Thank You on the front and draw on moons and stars.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

When it's time to put your baby to sleep, do you often turn to the tried-and-true staples? You know what I'm talking about... Time for Bed, Goodnight Moon, or the Very Hungry Caterpillar. I love these just as much as the next Mom, but I was excited to discover HOW DOES SLEEP COME by Jeanne C. Blackmore that was published in September.

In her picture book debut, Jeanne Blackmore creates the perfect soothing atmosphere for your little one to fall asleep. A mother is putting her son to bed when he asks, "How does sleep come?" Jacob's mom tucks him in and goes on to describe how sleep is like snowfall, a fog, a cloud, a cat and more.

“Sleep comes quietly. Like a snowfall that blankets a meadow on a dark
starry night, and lays down a soft white canvas for rabbits to leave
footprints.”

The text is beautiful and calming to read, just what you need to set the mood for nighttime. The illustrations also have a magical way of capturing that same calm and provide an amazing backdrop for any child to quietly, silently, softly, peacefully, and gently fall asleep. A must have for any new baby!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Celebrate art with Linnea in Monet's Garden. To celebrate the book’s 25th anniversary, Sourcebooks is bringing Linnea in Monet’s Garden back to print this October to inspire a new generation! Young readers join Linnea on her art-inspired adventure in France: visiting Monet's garden, standing on his famous Japanese bridge, gazing at the water lilies, stopping by Notre Dame, watching the sun rise over the Seine, and stepping into the colorful world of the impressionists.

This book is a wonderful addition to any aspiring artist's collection.Young readers will be fascinated by the reproductions of Monet's paintings, family photographs and beautiful watercolor illustrations of Linnea's adventures. If you're also planning to bring your young artist to Paris, the anniversary edition includes a list of museums and things to do in Paris. It's amazing that 25 years after it's orginal publication, this book is still a great resource that captures the magic of art.

Monday, October 15, 2012

If you're looking for sturdy, toddler-friendly board books, look no further. These wonderful books by Palm Kids will not only stand the test of time, they'll also provide kids with hours of entertainment.

COUNTDOWN BY THE SEA introduces kids to numbers 1 through 10. Together you can countdown from 10 and find different items you find by the sea. For example, the number 10 features 10 chairs, ten buckets and ten shovels and it's up to your little ones to find them. Kids will have fun as you read the rhyming story and they'll be captivated by the vibrant colors on each page.

When you need a break from practicing your numbers, check out COLORS UNDER THE SEA. Tabs on top of the book feature a different colored fish. Just turn to the page and your child will learn all about that color! The rhyming story makes for a fun read-aloud and in the corner of each page, children are asked to find certain items. I love the fact that each of these books are sturdy, durable and offer tabs on the top of each book, making it easy for children to turn to the page they'd like. Kids will love the theme, rhyming story and bright colors. Definitely a must for the toddler in your life.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

We've been inundated by stories of replacement refs and blown calls, but if you're looking for an inspirational story when it comes to football, be sure to check out BELIEVE: MY FAITH AND THE TACKLE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE by Eric LeGrand.

Eric LeGrand has an amazing story and he shares it in this memoir, available as both an adult and young adult edition. LeGrand is a former defensive tackle for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights
football team who suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was left
paralyzed by a crushing on-field tackle during a heated game with Army. This book chronicles his journey from his youth to becoming a football player to his injury to his remarkable quest to walk again.

There's no doubt this story has received national attention as LeGrand's positive outlook and strong faith should be something we all can learn from. I was so touched by this story and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read about LeGrand's experience. I hope young readers get the chance to snag this book because it not only brings more attention to spinal cord injuries, it inspires us all to never give up hope.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

My son's kindergarten class is starting their apple unit this week and perhaps yours is, too. If that's the case, you might want to check out the latest picture book by Esme Raji Codell, SEED BY SEED: THE LEGEND AND LEGACY OF JOHN "APPLESEED' CHAPMAN.

We've all heard the folktales of Johnny Appleseed and this picture book introduces young readers to the American hero. Young readers are transported to a different time. A time where there are no airplanes in the sky and phones ringing, but rather the creaking of wagon wheels and the crackling of campfires. Young readers learn that the tales of Johnny Appleseed are three parts legend, one part fact, and stories we're not sure are true.

SEED BY SEED is a great addition to any library or school and kids will love the fact that any apple they eat today might possibly be a descendant of a tree planted by Johnny Appleseed. The book dives into how Johnny Appleseed changed the landscape of a nation and encourages young readers to plant their own seeds.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

At the heart of children's literature are children, so what better way to celebrate their creativity than by putting together an entire book written by New York City students?

A POEM AS BIG AS NEW YORK CITY was organized by the Teachers & Writers Collaborative, a 45-year old nonprofit organization that offers creative writing programs for students and teachers throughout the five boroughs. What they did is not only inspiring, but it's a reminder of what young people are capable of. For two years, the Teachers & Writers Collaborative implemented a curriculum framework that served as a guide for students to write in poetry workshops. Students were instructed to imagine the poem as a character, traveling through the city and observing all it has to offer. And the result is an entire book that's a kid's-eye view of The Big Apple, Brooklyn, Staten Island, the subway, the Statue of Liberty and more.

I was born and raised a New Yorker and this book transplanted me back into the heart of the city. The sights, sounds and images are amazing and I can only imagine the creativity it took to put this entire project together. The poem is a great read, and the illustrations by Masha D'yans are truly unique.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

I'm excited to announce that I've set up shop on Etsy! I LOVE books and I LOVE writing, but another outlet for me has been polymer clay. Polymer clay is so versatile, easy to work with, and you can create such amazing things! You'll find various items, including...

Women's Bracelets...

Girl's Bracelets...

Fun charms...

And more. I would truly be honored if you would head over to Clay a la Mode on Etsy and favorite my page, tell a friend about it, or just peruse for your future gift needs. You can also follow Clay a la Mode on Facebook, so you're the first to know when new items are listed.

I look forward to sharing more of my creations with you and can't thank you enough for your continued support!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

If you have a little one who's learning how to write his numbers and shapes, you don't want to miss the new books by Palm Kids. These books have a handle on top, so they can easily be carried to Grandma's house; they come with a write-on erasable marker; and the sturdy pages are like a dry-erase board in that your child can practice writing IN the book, then it can easily be erased.

One of the books is 10 LITTLE TEDDY BEARS. In this one, kids will enjoy the rhyming story that follows 10 teddy bears as they count from one to ten. Each page features vibrant colors and cute illustrations will grab a young readers' attention. Not only will your child be able to write in the book and practice writing his numbers, he can count the objects on the page, literally helping him put two and two together!

Another book is SHAPES ON THE BUS. A take on the famous kids' song, "Wheels on the Bus," this one changes the words a bit to teach young readers all about their shapes! For example...
The windows on the bus are perfect squares,
Perfect squares, perfect squares.
The windows on the bus are perfect squares
With four sides, all the same.
Not only does this make for a great read-aloud, kids will love being able to write in the book, practicing drawing everything from squares to circles to stars and octagons!
At the end of the book, kids get a chance to review their shapes and are also shown how to draw a house and a cat using the shapes they learned. As if that's not enough, each book also includes an easy-to-download FREE bonus musical audiobook, e-book and printable activities to add to the learning fun!

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About Me

Lori Calabrese is a kindergarten teacher and an award winning children's author. Her books include The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade, which won Dragonfly Publishing Inc.'s 2009 Best Children's Book Award and Oh! the Possibilities! Lori's stories and articles have appeared in various children's magazines such as Boys' Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse, Jr., Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids, Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children's Literature's Rx for Writers. To learn more about Lori and her work, please visit www.loricalabrese.com